RU2381970C2 - Closure with one or more covers - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: packing industry. ^ SUBSTANCE: system comprises peripheral wall, which passes from container around hole to internal space of container, and upper part, having the first cover and the second cover, which is connected by the first film hinged joint with the first cover. Peripheral wall limits the first area for access and the second area. The first area has configuration that provides for withdrawal of product from container space, has wide end and has narrow end for withdrawal. The second area adjoins wide end of the first area and has configuration and size to provide for withdrawal of product from container. Upper part is arranged as a whole with peripheral wall and comprises both covers. The first hinged joint for movement of the first cover between closed position of the first area and open position and provides for access to the whole product in container. The second hinged joint is parallel to the first hinged joint and is arranged as a whole with peripheral wall and the second cover, for its connection to peripheral wall and arrangement between the first hinged joint and the second hinged joint for cover movement between closed position, in which the second area is closed, and open position, in which the second access area is opened. ^ EFFECT: such arrangement makes it possible to both pour liquid out or scoop it out. ^ 35 cl, 32 dwg

Description

Cross reference to related application

This application is partly a continuation of the application simultaneously pending application for US patent number 10 / 993,564, filed November 19, 2004 Travis Hoepner and Cori M. Blomdahl.

Attitude Towards US Federally Funded Research and Development

Does not match.

Link to the micro-application

Does not match.

Technical field

The invention relates to a system for dispensing a product from a container.

State of the art

There are various types of traditional dispensing closures. One type dispensing closure system of the prior art includes a housing or a main part for fastening to the top of the container. The housing limits the dispensing hole. The system further includes a lid that is pivotally mounted on the housing and which can be lifted up to open the dispensing opening.

Hand-out closures are typically used to dispense product from a container. For some types of fluid products, it would be desirable to provide a hinge with a hinged top or a lid that is suitable for pouring the fluid through the closure and is also alternatively suitable for insertion through the open closure of a kitchen tool to allow the fluid to be scooped out of container. Such a closure could also allow the user to scoop up products such as nuts, sweets, cookies, crackers, etc.

It would be desirable to provide an improved dispensing closure, in particular having a relatively large lid, in which the device for keeping the lid closed could provide increased resistance to opening the lid.

It would also be useful if an advanced dispensing closure could be obtained, which could easily be adapted to scoop out various materials, as well as pour or scoop out fluid products.

It would also be useful if the lid of such an improved dispensing closure were able to be quickly and easily controlled, if necessary, to allow the use of closures to either pour the fluid product out of the container or scoop out the fluid product or other product from the container.

Additionally, it would be advantageous if the improved dispensing closure could provide a relatively narrow flow of fluid product during pouring, and yet it would be wide enough to fit the traditional wide opening of the container.

It would also be useful if such an improved dispensing closure could be used with containers having various shapes and made of various materials.

Such an improved dispensing closure should be easy to use. Preferably, such an improved closure should also facilitate its cleaning.

It would also be useful if an advanced dispensing closure could be molded as a single part and not require the assembly of several parts.

Further, it would be desirable if the improved dispensing closure could have alternative designs for obtaining a narrow flow during pouring or a wide flow during pouring, and the main construction of the closure, in the manufacture of either of the two structures, could be cast in one common mold.

It would also be advantageous if an advanced dispensing closure could be made of many different materials.

Further, it would be desirable if such an improved system were suitable for efficient, high-quality, high-speed production technologies with a low percentage of rejects, for the manufacture of products with a high degree of reliability and stable performance for each product.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The dispensing closure system of the present invention may provide designs that include one or more of the desired features discussed above.

According to one aspect of the present invention, a first form of dispensing closure system is provided for a container that has an interior space in which a fluid or other type of product can be stored. The closure system includes a peripheral wall extending from the container around the opening into the interior of the container, and includes an upper portion that is integral with the peripheral wall.

According to one form of the present invention, the peripheral wall defines at least one area for access to the interior of the container, and at least a portion of the peripheral wall has a rim. The rim has at least one locking hole bounded by a surrounding ledge on the lower side of the rim. The rim may be temporarily elastically deformed laterally around the at least one locking hole. The upper part includes at least one cover having the ability to move between a closed position in which at least one access area is closed and an open position in which at least one access area is open. Said at least one lid includes at least one latching column for inserting it into said at least one latching hole when said at least one lid is closed. Specified at least one locking column includes a laterally extending locking collar configured to rim deform elastically laterally around said at least one locking hole to temporarily increase the size of said at least one a locking hole, when the specified at least one locking column is inserted into the specified at least one locking hole, so that the locking flange of the specified at least one locking the column is located relative to the locking ledge, forming a snap engagement when the specified at least one locking column is inserted into the specified at least one locking hole, as a result of which the opening resistance of the specified at least one cover increases.

According to another aspect of the invention, the peripheral wall defines a first access area and a second access area. The first access area has a first configuration and size to allow product to be removed from the container. The first access area has a wide end and a narrow end of a tapering shape for retrieval. The second access area has a second configuration and size to allow the product to be scooped out of the interior of the container.

The upper part includes a first lid, a second lid and a first film hinge for connecting the first lid to the second lid to allow the first lid to move between a closed position in which the first access area is closed and an open position in which the first access area is open . There is also a second film hinge integrally formed with the peripheral wall and the second lid for connecting the second lid to the peripheral lid to allow the second lid to move between the closed position in which the second access area is closed and the open position in which the second area for access is open. One or both covers may, but without requiring this, include a locking column, and the peripheral cover may, but not requiring this, include a locking hole for snap engagement with the locking column.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is also provided a second form of a dispensing closure system for a container that has an interior space in which a fluid or other type of product can be stored. The second form of the closure system includes a peripheral wall extending from the container around the opening into the interior of the container. There is an upper part made in one piece with the peripheral wall. The upper part includes a fixed panel that is integral with the peripheral wall and extends across the peripheral wall to limit the first access area separated by the fixed panel from the second access area. The first access area has a first configuration and size to allow extraction (pouring) of the product from the container. The first access area has a wide end adjacent to the fixed panel, and has a narrow end that (1) is located at a distance from the fixed panel, and (2) has a narrowing shape for extraction. The second access area has a second configuration and size to allow extraction (scooping) of the product from the interior of the container.

The upper part includes a first cover and a second cover. A first flexible hinge connects the first cover to a fixed panel to allow movement between a closed position in which the first access area is closed and an open position in which the first access area is open. A second film hinge connects the second cover to the fixed part to allow the second cover to move between a closed position in which the second access area is closed and an open position in which the second access area is open. One or both covers may, but without requiring this, include a locking column, and the peripheral cover may, but not requiring this, include a locking hole for snap engagement with the locking column.

According to another aspect of the invention, a dispensing closure system having an upper portion with two hinged covers may have an additional locking system. An additional locking system may function with a dispensing closure system for a container that has an interior space in which the product can be stored. The dispensing closure system includes a peripheral wall intended to extend from the container around the opening into the interior of the container. The peripheral wall defines a first access area and a second access area. At least a portion of the peripheral wall that defines the second access area has a rim. The rim has at least one locking hole bounded by a surrounding ledge on the lower side of the rim. The rim may be temporarily elastically deformed laterally around the at least one locking hole. The dispensing closure system also includes an upper part integrally formed with the peripheral wall. The upper part includes:

(1) a first cover having the ability to move between a closed position in which the first access area is closed and an open position in which the first access area is open; and

(2) a second cover having the ability to move between a closed position in which the second access area is closed and an open position in which the second access area is open.

The second lid includes at least one latching column for inserting it into the latching hole when the second lid is closed. The locking column includes a laterally extending locking collar designed to cause the rim to deform elastically laterally around the locking hole so as to temporarily increase the size of the locking hole when the locking column is inserted into the locking hole so that the locking collar of the locking column is positioned relative to the locking ledge forming snap engagement when the locking column is inserted into the locking hole, resulting in resistance to opening the lid velichivaetsya.

Many other advantages and features of the present invention will be better understood from the following detailed description of the invention, claims and the accompanying drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of the description, the same reference numbers indicate similar details:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a dispensing closure system of the present invention implemented in the form of a dispensing closure for use on, or as part of, a container (not shown), and the dispensing closure is shown in a completely closed state.

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1, but in which one of the two covers of the upper part of the closure is moved to the open position.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a dispensing closure shown in FIG. 1, but in which both covers are shown in an open position.

Figure 4 is a top view of the fully open closure shown in figure 3.

FIG. 5 is a side view of the fully open closure shown in FIG. 4.

6 is a side view of a fully closed closure shown in figure 1.

Fig.7 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along the plane 7-7 in Fig.4.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along the plane 8-8 in Fig. 1.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the portion of FIG. 8 shown by the circle indicated by “FIG. 9”.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a dispensing closure system of the present invention implemented in the form of a dispensing closure for use on, or as part of, a container (not shown), and the dispensing closure is shown in a completely closed state.

11 is a greatly enlarged cross-sectional view taken along the plane 11-11 of FIG. 10.

Fig. 12 is a view similar to Fig. 11, but in which one of the two covers of the upper part of the closure is moved to the open position.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a dispensing closure shown in FIG. 10, but in which the other of the two covers of the upper portion of the closure is moved to the open position.

Fig. 14 is a view similar to Fig. 13, but in which both covers are moved to the open position.

Fig. 15 is a greatly enlarged cross-sectional view taken along the plane 15-15 of Fig. 14.

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of a dispensing closure system of the present invention implemented in the form of a dispensing closure for use on, or as part of, a container (not shown), and the dispensing closure is shown with both top covers displaced to the open position.

Fig.17 is a view similar to Fig.16, but in which one of the two covers is closed and the other of the two covers is moved to the open position.

Fig. 18 is a plan view of a third embodiment of a dispensing closure shown in Fig. 16.

Fig. 15 is a cross-sectional view taken along the plane 19-19 of Fig. 18.

FIG. 20 is a perspective view of a fourth embodiment of a dispensing closure system of the present invention implemented in the form of a dispensing closure for use on, or as part of, a container (not shown), and the dispensing closure is shown with both top covers displaced to the open position.

FIG. 21 is another perspective view of an open closure shown in FIG.

Fig.22 is a top view of the open closure shown in Fig.20 and Fig.21.

Fig. 23 is a cross-sectional view taken generally along the plane 23-23 of Fig. 22.

24 is a perspective view of a fifth embodiment of a dispensing closure system of the present invention implemented in the form of a dispensing closure for use on, or as part of, a container (not shown), and the dispensing closure is shown with both top covers displaced to the open position.

Fig. 25 is a plan view of an open closure shown in Fig. 24.

Fig. 26 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view of a portion of the closure body portion within the circle indicated by the dotted line indicated by "Fig. 26" in Fig. 24.

Fig. 27 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of a portion of the closure body inside the circle indicated by the dashed line indicated by "Fig. 27" in Fig. 25.

FIG. 28 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view of a portion of the closure body portion inside the circle indicated by the dotted line indicated by “FIG. 27” in FIG. 25 taken along line 28-28 of FIG. 25.

Fig. 29 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a portion of the upper part of the closure inside the circle indicated by the dashed line indicated by "Fig. 29" in Fig. 24.

FIG. 30 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of a portion of the upper portion of the closure inside the circle indicated by the dashed line indicated by “FIG. 30” in FIG. 25.

Fig. 31 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view of a portion of the upper part of the closure inside the circle indicated by the dotted line indicated by "Fig. 30" in Fig. 25 taken along line 31-31 in Fig. 25.

Fig. 32 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view similar to Fig. 28, but which shows a portion of the upper portion interacting with a portion of the closure body when the upper portion is in a fully closed state.

Description of Preferred Embodiments

Although the present invention can be implemented in many different forms, this description and the accompanying drawings describe only some specific forms of implementation as examples of the invention. The invention is not limited to the described embodiments. The scope of the invention is defined in the attached claims.

For ease of description, the dispensing system of this invention is described in the vertical orientation that it could have on the upper end of the container when the container is standing vertically on its base. It is understood, however, that the dispensing system of the present invention can be manufactured, stored, transported, used, and sold in a different orientation than that described.

The dispensing system of the present invention is suitable for use with various conventional or special containers of various designs, the details of which, although not shown or described, will be apparent to those skilled in the art who are aware of containers of this type. With respect to the illustrated embodiments described herein, the container as such is not any part of the aspects of the present invention in the broadest sense and therefore does not limit it. It will also be apparent to those skilled in the art that only new and non-obvious aspects of the invention are illustrated in the dispensing system described as an example.

The currently preferred first embodiment of the dispensing closure system of the present invention is in the form of the dispensing closure assembly shown in FIGS. 1-9 and indicated generally by 30 in FIG. 1. The dispensing closure 30 assembly, which is hereinafter sometimes referred to as “closure 30” for simplicity, is offered as a separately manufactured assembly for mounting on top of a container (not shown). It is understood, however, that in some applications it may be desirable to formulate the dispensing closure 30 as an integral part, or an extension thereof, of a container, where the given component, or extension, forms the distributing end of the container as such.

The container (not shown) typically has a traditional mouth that provides access to the interior of the container and to the product contained therein. The product can be, for example, nuts, sweets, crackers, cookies, etc., which can be scooped out of the container. The product may also be a more fluid material that can be poured as well as scooped up, such as, for example, ground coffee, sugar or other material, such as, for example, liquids, powders, suspensions, etc. Such materials may be sold, for example, as a food product, personal care product, industrial or household product, or as another composition (for example, for internal or external use by people or animals, or for use in medicine, industry, commerce, for domestic purposes, construction, agriculture, etc.).

The container may typically have a neck or other suitable structure defining a mouth having a cross-sectional configuration with which the closure 30 is adapted to cooperate. The container body may have a different cross-sectional configuration, which is different from the cross-sectional configuration of the mouth of the container. The container may, on the other hand, have substantially the same shape along its entire length or height without having any neck of reduced size or distinct cross-section.

The container may or may not be a compressible container having a flexible wall or walls that can be gripped by the user and compressed to some extent.

However, the closure 30 is particularly suitable for use with a container that has substantially flexible walls that are not intended to be compressed by the user.

As shown in FIG. 3 for the first embodiment, the preferred design of the closure 30 includes a peripheral wall that forms a base or body 32, and an upper portion 34 connected to the base or body 32 of the peripheral wall by a hinge 36, which can be any suitable traditional design film hinge, known in the field of closures, or which may be a hinge of a special design, the details of which are not part of the present invention. In the preferred first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-12, the peripheral wall of the closure (e.g., housing 32), top 34 and hinge 36 are molded as a unitary structure from a suitable thermoplastic material such as polypropylene or the like. Other materials may be used instead.

In other proposed embodiments, the closure 30 does not have to be a structure completely separate from the container. Instead, the container may be manufactured with a dispensing end that includes a closure 30 as part of the container. In this case, the first embodiment of the closure 30 shown can be modified to be a continuation of the container, and the protruding portion forming the housing 32 can then be characterized as a structural part that functions to communicate with the interior of the container.

In any of the above options (i.e., a separate closure or closure molded as an extension of the container), the container may have an initially open lower end opposite the dispensing end on which the closure 30 is located, and such a lower end can be used to filling the inverted container with the product, which will then be distributed. After the inverted container is filled with the product through the open lower end of the container, the open lower end of the container can be closed in a suitable way, for example by means of a separate closure for the lower end, which can be attached to the lower end of the container (for example, by means of a threaded connection, snap engagement adhesive bonding, heat sealing bonding, etc.). Alternatively, such an open bottom of the container may be deformed to close it (for example, by using an appropriate process that uses heat and force if the bottom end of the container is made of thermoplastic material or other material that may be suitable for using such a process).

The peripheral wall or housing 32 may have a skirt 40 (FIG. 7 and FIG. 8) with a conventional shoulder 42 for snap engagement with the mating groove of the container (not shown) to attach the closure body 32 to the container (not shown).

Alternatively, the closure body 32 may be permanently attached to the container by inductive welding, ultrasonic welding, gluing, and the like, depending on the materials from which the container and closure body 32 are made.

The interior of the housing 32 may also include special or conventional sealing parts to provide a reinforced hermetic seal between the closure housing 32 and the container. The latched closure body 32 shown does not use such a reinforcing sealing member.

The illustrated preferred first form of closure body 32 has an inwardly extending upper edge, peripheral pad or rim (FIG. 3). As shown in FIG. 7, the housing 32 has an outer peripheral ledge 45 in the upper part of the skirt 40 below the rim 44. As can be seen in FIG. 9, on the inside of the ledge 45, the closure body 32 has a generally upward, vertically oriented neck or the side wall 48. There is a peripheral locking collar 50 (Fig. 9), which extends laterally outward from the side wall 48 at a height above the ledge 45.

As can be seen in FIG. 3, the finger protrusion 53 extends laterally outward from the skirt 40 of the closure body at the same height as the peripheral ledge 45 of the closure body. This may facilitate removal of the closure 30 as a whole from the container when required.

As can be seen in FIG. 3, the peripheral wall formed by the closure body 32 defines a first access area 51 and an adjacent second access area 52. The first access area 51 is adapted to be closed by the first cover 61, which is part of the upper part 34, and the second access area 52 is adapted to be closed by the second cover 62, which is part of the upper part 34. The covers 61 and 62 are bonded or connected together by a film hinge 54. For convenience, the film hinge 54 can be considered as a “first” film hinge for connecting the first cover 61 to the second cover 62, while the film hinge 36 can be considered as a “second” film hinge for connecting second lid 62 with a peripheral wall or closure body 32.

The first cover 61 includes a peripheral flange 65 (FIG. 1 and FIG. 2), and the second cover 62 includes a peripheral flange 67 (FIG. 1 and FIG. 2). The flange 65 of the first cover includes an inwardly extending locking collar 64 (FIG. 9). The flange 67 of the second cover 62 has a similar inwardly extending locking collar 66 (FIG. 3). When the first cover 61 is closed (Fig. 8 and Fig. 9), the locking collar 64 of the flange of the first cover is slightly lower than the locking collar 50 of the closure body. If the first cover 61 is subjected to an upward force (for example, from accidental impact or from accidental pressure by the user's finger), then the first cover 61 can move slightly upward until the locking collars 64 and 50 come into contact. At this point, significantly greater force will be required to move the locking collar 64 through and above the locking collar 50 of the closure body. This design of the locking flanges 50 and 64 functions to hold the first cover 61 in the closed position during normal operation of the closure 30 and the associated packaging. However, the design of the locking collar allows the cover 61 to be deliberately opened when sufficient opening force is applied. Further, when the lid 61 is closed, the design of the spaced locking flanges 50 and 64 compensates for minor changes in vertical dimensions due to manufacturing tolerances. The locking collar 66 of the second lid functions in the same way as the locking collar 50 of the closure body.

Referring to FIG. 3, the first access area 51 can be characterized as having a first configuration and size to allow the product to pour out of the container, and the second access area 52 can be described as having a second configuration and size to allow a product to be scooped out of the inner space of the container.

Turning to FIG. 4, the first access area 51 has a wide end 6 adjacent to the second access area 52. The first access area 51 also has a narrow tapering end 70 for pouring. Further, referring to FIG. 4, the narrow end 70 of the first access area is bounded at least partially by two arcuate side portions 72 that extend into an arcuate end portion 74 that has a radius smaller than the radius of each of the two arcuate side portions 72 .

To facilitate opening and closing of the upper part 34, the first cover 61 includes an outward protruding or laterally extending finger protrusion 76 (FIG. 2 and FIG. 4). When both covers 61 and 62 of the upper portion 34 are closed (FIG. 1 and FIG. 6), the first cover 61 can be easily opened if the user pushes up with sufficient force on the protrusion 76. The first cover 61 can be moved into a substantially vertical open position shown in figure 2. The container on which the closure 30 is mounted may then be turned over to pour fluid through the first access area 51 of the closure 30. The first film hinge 54 may be molded with sufficient inclination in the open position so as to cause the first lid 61 to remain almost perpendicular to the closure body 32 after the first cover 61 has been removed from the closed position.

If fluid contents are to be scooped out of the container, then the second lid 62 can also be lifted upward, and the upper part 34 as a whole can be brought into a fully open state, as shown in FIG. 3. When the upper part 34 is fully open, the second access area 52, as well as the first access area 51, which together form a large integrated access area, as shown in FIG. 3, become open. The combined access area, consisting of a first access area 51 and a second access area 52, provides an even larger area into which a kitchen tool can be inserted and through which fluid contents can be scooped out of the container.

A second form of an embodiment of a dispensing closure system 30A of the present invention is illustrated in FIGS. 10-15. The closure system or closure 30A includes a peripheral wall in the form of a closure body 32A, which has a configuration substantially similar to the closure body 32 described above for the first embodiment illustrated in FIG. 19. As can be seen in FIG. 15, the closure body 32A includes a skirt 40A having a snap flange 42A for mounting the closure body on the container in a manner similar to that described above for the first embodiment of the closure body 32 illustrated in FIGS. 1-9 .

The closure body 32A also includes a peripheral ledge 45A and a short peripheral neck or side wall 48A that has a laterally projecting closure collar (not shown in the small drawings, but which is identical to the closure collar 50 described above for the first embodiment, illustrated in Fig.9).

As can be seen in FIG. 15, the closure body 32A has a first access area 51A and a second access area 52A. The first access area 51A has a first configuration and size to allow the product to spill out of the container. The second access area 52A has a second configuration and size to allow the product to be scooped out of the interior of the container.

The first access area 51A is separated from the second access area 52A by the fixed panel 55A (FIG. 15), which is integral with the closure body 32A and defines a portion of the upper part of the closure that includes the fixed panel 55A, the first cover 61A attached, and attached second cover 62A. As can be seen in FIG. 15, the first cover 61A is connected to the fixed panel 55A by a first film hinge 57A, and the second cover 62A is connected to the fixed panel 55A by a second film hinge 59A. The first cover 61A is adapted to close the first access area 51A when the first cover 61A is closed (FIGS. 10-11). For this, the first cover 61A has a flange 65A (designed to go along the neck or side wall 48A of the closure body (FIG. 11 and FIG. 15) when the first cover 61A is closed). The flange 65A includes an inwardly projecting closure collar 64A for engaging with the closure collar of the neck of the closure body 48A in the same manner as in the first embodiment, the closure collar 64 of the closure cover engages with the closure collar 50 of the closure body as described above for the first embodiment the implementation illustrated in Fig.9.

The second cover 62A also has a similar flange 67A with a locking collar 66A (FIG. 15) for engaging the closure body 32A in a similar manner.

As can be seen in FIG. 15, the first cover 61A has a lifting protrusion 76A, and the second cover 62A has a lifting protrusion 77A. The covers 61A and 62A can be lifted up by applying force to the lifting tabs 76A and 77A, respectively.

With the exception of the fixed panel 55A extending across the upper portion of the closure body 32A, the closure body 32A defines a first access area 51A and a second access area 52A having configurations substantially similar to those of the access areas 51 and 52, respectively, of the first the implementation described above with reference to figures 1-9. However, due to the fact that in the second embodiment, the covers 61A and 62A are each independently connected by means of a film hinge to the fixed panel 55A, as can be seen in FIG. 15, each access area 51A and 52A can be opened independently of the other. Thus, it becomes possible to leave the first access area 51A closed while at the same time lifting the second cover 62A to open the second access area 52A. This feature is not possible in the closure 30 according to the first embodiment described above with reference to figures 1-9. On the other hand, due to the fact that the closure 30A according to the second embodiment includes a fixed panel 55A extending across the upper part of the closure body 32, unobstructed access to the entire interior of the housing 32A is not possible, while the upper part 34 of the closure 30 according to the first embodiment, it can be completely moved to the open position, since there is no structure going across the open closure body 32 that would prevent full access to one of if both the first regions 51 and 52 for access.

16-19 illustrate a third embodiment of a dispensing closure system 30B of the present invention. The third embodiment of the closure 30B is substantially similar to the first embodiment of the closure 30 described above with reference to FIGS. 1-9. As can be seen in FIG. 19, the closure 30B of the third embodiment has a closure body 32B connected by a film hinge 36B to an upper portion 34B that includes a first cover 61B and a second cover 62B connected to each other by a film hinge 54B.

The closure body 32B has an inwardly extending peripheral upper edge or rim 44B similar to the upper edge or rim 44 used in the closure 30 of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 4, except that in the third embodiment, the upper edge 44B is combined with a large, different configuration, flange or shelf 82B at the drain, narrow end of the first access area 51B (FIG. 18). Shelf 82B protrudes laterally inward and has a flat upper surface that is in the same plane as the upper edge 44B of the closure body 32B. Shelf 82B functions as a flow restriction member and makes the drain area of the first access portion 51B even narrower. This is useful in some applications to facilitate a narrower flow of flowable material from an open closure during dispensing. This allows casting (or otherwise manufacturing) the lower portion of the larger closure body 32B to accommodate a wider mouth of the container. Most of the design of the closure body 32B can be made large in order to fit the wide opening of the container, which facilitates proper installation of the body 32B and also gives the desired aesthetic appearance. Moreover, a narrower drain area bounded by the inwardly extending shelf 82B will allow control of the pouring operation, especially for, but not limited to, certain types of flowable material such as ground coffee and sugar.

The use of the 82B shelf facilitates manufacturing flexibility. For example, one common mold may be used to make either the closure 30 of the first embodiment or the closure 30B of the third embodiment. This is achieved by using a removable mold insert in a common mold to form a flange 82B when the closure 30B of the third embodiment is cast. The mold insert is removed when the closure 30 of the first embodiment is cast.

A fourth embodiment of the closure 30C is illustrated in FIGS. 20-23. The closure 30C of the fourth embodiment is similar to the closure 30B of the third embodiment described above with reference to FIGS. 16-19, except that the closure 30C of the fourth embodiment does not include an inwardly extending flat shelf 82B that is used in a third embodiment of closure 30B. More specifically, the closure body 32C of the fourth embodiment includes an upper edge or rim 44C that defines the edge portions of the second access area 52C (FIG. 22) and which extends along the edge portions of the first access area 51C. Down from the top edge or rim 44C is the inner flange 46C. The upper edge or rim 44C and the flange 46C end in the longitudinal direction at the drain end of the first region 51C for access by the end wall 101C (Fig.21-23). On the other side of the end wall 101C, the closure body 32C forms an arcuate ramp or nose 103C (FIGS. 20-23).

Slope 103C provides advantages when pouring certain products, especially some dispersed products with a large particle size (for example, pieces of a snack food product having a diameter of the order of 3/16 inch or more) can flow more easily, having a more limited outlet flow configuration, over the slope 103C.

Also, as can be seen in FIG. 23, the ramp 103C has a bottom edge 105C that can interact with the top of the container (not shown) to prevent the fluid product from falling behind the ramp 103C when the product spills out. The lower edge 105C extends as the lower part of the flange 46C, so that the lower part of the flange 46C will also interact with the upper part of the container to prevent the fluid product from falling behind the flange 46C when the product spills out.

The flat shelf 82B and the ramp 103C of the third and fourth embodiment, respectively, can also each be used in modifications of the closure 30A of the second embodiment described above with reference to FIGS. 10-15.

A fifth embodiment of the closure 30D is illustrated in FIGS. 24-32. The closure 30D of the fifth embodiment is similar to the closure 30C of the fourth embodiment described above with reference to FIGS. 20-23. However, the closure 30D of the fifth embodiment has a peripheral wall of the housing or the housing 32D and an upper portion 34D that are connected by a hinge 36D consisting of two spaced apart segments (instead of the one used in the fourth embodiment) and a fifth embodiment of the closure means 30D includes some additional features, as described in more detail below.

The closure body 32D of the fifth embodiment has a first access area 51D (FIG. 25) and a second access area 52D (FIG. 25). The peripheral wall or housing 32D includes a top edge, a peripheral pad or rim 44D that defines the edge portions of the second access area 52D (FIG. 25) and which extends along the edge portions of the first access area 51D. Down from the top edge, peripheral pad or rim 44D is the inner flange 46D (Fig.24). The rim 44D and the flange 46D terminate longitudinally on each side of the closure body 32D with a small end wall 101D (FIG. 24) at the drain end of the first access area 51D. On the other side of the end wall 101D, the closure body 32D forms a drain region or spout 103D (FIG. 24).

The closure body 32D has a peripheral closure collar 50D (Fig. 24), which is similar to the closure collar 50 illustrated in Fig. 9 in the first embodiment of closure 30 described above. The locking collar 50D protrudes laterally outward by a small amount and is adapted to engage with the locking collars in portions of the upper part 34D when the upper honor 34D is closed.

The upper portion 34D includes a first cover 61D (FIG. 24), which is connected through a hinge 54D to a second cover 62D. Inside the second lid 62D, there are a pair of ribs 63D that increase the strength and rigidity of the structure.

The first cover 61D includes a peripheral flange 65D (FIG. 24), and the second cover 62D includes a peripheral flange 67D (FIG. 24). The flange 65D of the first cover includes an inwardly extending closure collar 64D (FIG. 24). The flange 67D on the second cover 62D has a similar inwardly extending locking collar 66D (FIG. 24). When the first cover 61D is closed, the locking flange 64D of the flange of the first cover is slightly lower than the locking flange 50D of the closure body.

If the first cover 61D is subjected to an upward force (for example, from accidental impact or from accidentally being pressed by a user's finger), then the first cover 61D can move slightly upward until the locking collars 64D and 50D come into contact. A significantly greater force will be required at this location to move the locking collar 64D through and above the locking collar 50D of the closure body. This design of the locking collars 50D and 64D is operable to hold the first cover 61D in a closed position during normal operation of the closure 30D and associated packaging. However, the design of the locking collar provides for the deliberate opening of the lid 61D when sufficient opening force is applied. Further, when the lid 61D is closed, the design of the spaced locking collars 50D and 64D compensates for minor changes in vertical dimensions due to manufacturing tolerances.

The locking collar 66D of the second lid is positioned to be slightly lower than the locking collar 50D of the closure body when the second lid 62D is closed. If the second cover 62D is subjected to an upward force (for example, from accidental impact or from accidentally being pressed by the user's finger), then the second cover 61D can move slightly upward until the locking collars 66D and 50D come into contact.

At this point, great force must be applied to the second lid 62D in order to open it. The beads 66D and 50D are used to hold the second lid 62D in a closed position during normal operation of the closure 30D and associated packaging. However, in some applications, when the package contains a relatively large amount of product or a relatively heavy product, the product in the package can expose the relatively large inner surface of the closed second lid 62D to a significant total force when the package is tipped over or turned over to dispense the product through the open first lid 61D. Such increased force exerted internally on the second lid 62D may cause the second lid 62D to open, although the user does not have this intention. The chance of accidentally opening the second lid 62D can be increased if the package is shaken when it is turned upside down.

In order to minimize the likelihood of such accidentally opening the lid 62D, there is an additional locking system, and the additional locking system includes at least one locking hole 120D in the upper edge or rim 44D of the closure body (FIG. 24) and at least at least one corresponding locking column 130D in the upper second cover 62D (FIG. 24). In the presently preferred embodiment, there are four locking holes 120D in the closure body 32D and four corresponding locking posts 130D in the upper second closure cover 62D. The number of locking holes and their corresponding locking columns may be smaller or larger, depending on, among other things, the total size of the closure 30D, the weight of the product in the package, the material from which the closure 32D is made, etc.

As can be seen in FIGS. 26-28, each locking hole 120D includes an external tapered or truncated conical input surface 122D (FIG. 28) and a generally cylindrical surface or channel 124D (FIG. 28). Below the cylindrical surface 124D there is a large portion that defines a locking step 126D (FIG. 28) around the bottom of the channel or surface 124D.

As can be seen in FIGS. 29-31, each locking column 130D has a generally cylindrical interior 142D. On the outer portion of the inner part 142D, there is a locking collar 144D (Fig. 29 and Fig. 310), which protrudes laterally or radially outward. The distal end of each locking column 130D has a tapered inlet surface, which, in the shown preferred embodiment, is a truncated cone shaped input surface 146D.

When the second lid 62D is closed (FIG. 32), the locking column input surface 146D interacts with and guides with the conical input surface 122D of the closure housing closure hole 120D. The closure body structure at the location of the locking hole 120D that restricts it is deformed by expanding radially outward (elastic and temporary) to allow the insertion of the locking column 130D and the locking collar 144D of the locking column to be positioned relative to the locking shoulder 126D around the bottom of the locking hole 120D in case 32D closure. When the locking collar 144D of the locking column extends completely inward beyond the locking ledge 126D of the locking hole of the closure body, the closure housing structure defining the locking hole 120D returns to its original configuration substantially free of stress and small diameter to engage snap engagement with the locking column 130D (Fig.32).

The snap engagement formed by the locking holes 120D and the locking posts 130D creates a reliable locking system that requires more force to open the second lid 62D, and this required opening force is greater than the force that is exerted from the inside to the second lid 62D when the packaging is closed. containing a heavy product, rolls over and shakes. To open the second lid 62D, the user must apply a larger opening force thereto.

The first closure cover 61D and closure body 32D may also have similar locking posts and locking openings of the additional locking system, respectively. However, in typical applications for which the closure 32D is designed, the first lid 61D is relatively small, so that the inner surface area of the first lid 61D is relatively small. Therefore, in typical applications for which the closure 32D is designed, the shock value of the shocked product acting on the closed small first cover 61D will not be large enough to cause the first cover 61D to open. Thus, the use of only the main locking flange 64D of the first cover and the locking body 50D of the closure body engaging therewith will be sufficient in most applications to prevent accidental opening of such a small first cover 61D.

The above system of a locking column and a locking hole for holding the lid closed, which is used in the closure 30D, can also be applied in the first four embodiments of the closure (30, 30A, 30 V, 30C) shown in Fig.1-23.

The above system of a locking column and a locking hole to keep the lid closed, which is used in the closure 30D, can also be used in the closure having only one lid or three or more lids. Such covers may be attached to the peripheral wall or base of the closure system by means of a tie or hinge, or such cover or covers may be completely removable.

From the above detailed description of the invention and the drawings it is obvious that various variations and modifications can be made within the true essence and scope of new concepts or principles of the present invention.

Claims (35)

1. A dispensing closure system (30, 30B, 30C, 30D) for a container having a single, undivided interior space in which a product can be stored containing:
(A) a peripheral wall (32, 32B, 32C, 32D) extending from said container around the opening to the interior of the container, and
(B) an upper part (34, 34B, 34C, 34D) having a first cover (61, 61B, 61D) and a second cover (62, 62B, 62D) connected by a first film hinge (54, 54B, 54D) to the first cover (61, 61B, 61D), characterized in that said peripheral wall (32, 32B, 32C, 32D) restricts the first single, unshared area (51, 51B, 51D) for access and the second single, unshared area (52, 52D) for access, and the specified first single, unshared area (51, 51B, 51D) for access has the first configuration and size to ensure the extraction of the specified product from the specified internal space of the container, and the first single, unshared area (51, 51B, 51D) for access has a wide end (68) and has a narrow end (70) of a tapering shape for extraction, the specified second single, unshared area (52, 52D) for access is adjacent to the indicated wide end (68) of the first single, unshared area (51, 51B, 51D) for access and has a second configuration and size to allow extraction of the specified product from the interior of the specified container;
the specified upper part has a structure that is integral with the specified peripheral wall (32, 32B, 32C, 32D) and includes the following: the first cover (61, 61B, 61D);
a second cover (62, 62B, 62D), and
a first film hinge (54, 54B, 54D) located to allow movement of said first cover (61, 61B, 61D) between a closed position in which said first single, unshared area (51, 51B, 51D) for access is closed and open a position in which said first single, unshared area (51, 51B, 51D) is open for access and provides access to the entire product in a single, unshared internal space of the container; and
(B) said dispensing closure system (30, 30B, 30C, 30D) further comprises a second film hinge (36, 36B, 36D), which is parallel to the first film hinge (54, 54B, 54D) and is integral with the specified peripheral wall (32, 32B, 32C, 32D) and the specified second cover (62, 62B, 62D), for connecting the specified second cover (62, 62B, 62D) with the specified peripheral wall (32, 32B, 32C, 32D) so that position said second cover (62, 62B, 62D) between said first film hinge (54, 54B, 54D) and said second film hinge (36, 36B, 36D) to provide I move the specified second cover (62, 62B, 62D) between the closed position in which the specified second single, unshared area (52, 52D) for access is blocked, and the open position in which the specified second single, unshared area (52, 52D) open for access and provides access to the entire product in a single, undivided interior space of the container. 2. The system (30, 30B, 30C, 30D) according to claim 1 is a dispensing closure (30, 30B, 30C, 30D) for a container that has a hole in the interior of the container, said closure is separate from the specified container, but has the ability to removably attach to it around the specified hole. 3. The system (30, 30B, 30C, 30D) according to claim 1, in which the narrow end (70) of said first access area is limited, at least in part, by two arcuate lateral sections that extend into an arcuate end section (74) having a radius less than the radius of each of these two arched side sections (72). 4. The system (30, 30B, 30C, 30D) according to claim 1, wherein said peripheral wall (32, 32B, 32C, 32D) is a closure body (32, 32B, 32C, 32D), which includes snap-on collar (42) for engaging with a snap-in receiving structure on the container. 5. The system (30, 30B, 30C, 30D) according to claim 1, wherein said first cover (61, 61B, 61D) and said second cover (62, 62B, 62D) each have a peripheral flange (65, 65D, 67 , 67D) extending along the upper portion of said peripheral wall (32, 32B, 32C, 32D). 6. The system (30D) according to claim 5, in which
said peripheral flange (65D, 67D), of each of said covers (61D, 62D), has a laterally extending locking collar (64D, 66D);
said peripheral wall (32D) has a laterally outwardly extending collar (50D) for engaging with said laterally extending inwardly securing collar (64D) of said first cover (61D) and for engaging with said laterally extending inward lateral collar ( 66D) said second cover (62D);
said peripheral wall (32D) includes a rim (44D) having at least one locking hole (120D) defined by a surrounding locking ledge (126D) on the bottom of said rim (44D);
the specified rim (44D) is made with the possibility of temporary elastic deformation in the lateral direction around the specified at least one locking hole (120D); and
at least one of said covers (62D) includes at least one locking column (130D) for inserting it into said at least one locking hole (120D) when said at least one the cover (62D) is closed, said at least one locking column (130D) includes a laterally extending locking collar (144D) configured to deform elastically and laterally to said rim (44D) around said at least at least one locking hole (120D) to temporarily increase p a size of said at least one opening (120D) when said at least one locking column (130D) is inserted into said at least one locking hole (120D), so that a locking collar (144D) of said at least one locking column is located inside the specified locking ledge (126D), in snap engagement, when at least one specified locking column (130D) is placed in the specified at least one locking hole (120D), resulting in resistance opening the specified cover uve licks. 7. The system (30, 30B, 30C, 30D) according to claim 1, wherein said peripheral wall (32, 32B, 32C, 32D) includes a lifting protrusion (76) that protrudes laterally outward beyond one of the indicated lids (61) when said one lid is closed. 8. The system (30B) according to claim 1, wherein said peripheral wall (32B) at the narrow end (70) of said first access area includes an element (82B) that protrudes laterally inward. 9. The system (30V) according to claim 8, in which the specified peripheral wall (32V) has a rim (44V); and
said element (82B), protruding laterally inward, is a generally flat shelf (82B) having an upper surface that is in the same plane as the rim (44B) of said peripheral wall. 10. The system (30C) according to claim 1, in which the specified peripheral wall (32C) has a rim (44C); and an arcuate ramp (103C) that extends laterally inward and downward from the rim (44C) of said peripheral wall into said first access area. 11. A dispensing closure system for a container having an interior space in which a product may be stored, comprising:
(A) a peripheral wall extending from said container around the opening to the interior of the container, said peripheral wall defining a first access area and a second access area, said first access area having a first configuration and size to allow extraction of said product from said container, and the first access area has a wide end and has a narrow end of a tapering shape for extraction, the specified second access area is adjacent to the specified wide th end of the first access region and has a second configuration and a size to accommodate recovering said product from the interior of said container;
(B) the upper part, which is made in one piece with the specified peripheral wall and includes:
(1) a first cover;
(2) a second cover, and
(3) a first film hinge for connecting said first cover to said second cover to allow said first cover to move between a closed position in which said first access area is closed and an open position in which said first access area is open; and
(B) a second film hinge, which is integrally formed with said peripheral wall and said second cover, for connecting said second cover to said peripheral wall so as to move said second cover between a closed position in which said second access area is closed, and an open position in which said second access area is open, wherein
said peripheral wall is a closure body that includes a snap-in collar for engagement with a snap-in receiving structure on the container. 12. A dispensing closure system for a container having an interior space in which a product can be stored, comprising:
(A) a peripheral wall extending from said container around the opening to the interior of the container, said peripheral wall defining a first access area and a second access area, said first access area having a first configuration and size to allow extraction of said product from said container, and the first access area has a wide end and has a narrow end of a tapering shape for extraction, the specified second access area is adjacent to the specified wide th end of the first access region and has a second configuration and a size to accommodate recovering said product from the interior of said container;
(B) the upper part, which is made in one piece with the specified peripheral wall and includes: (1) the first cover;
(2) a second cover, and
(3) a first film hinge for connecting said first cover to said second cover to allow said first cover to move between a closed position in which said first access area is closed and an open position in which said first access area is open; and
B) a second film hinge, which is integrally formed with said peripheral wall and said second cover, for connecting said second cover to said peripheral wall so as to allow said second cover to move between a closed position in which said second access area is closed, and open position in which the specified second area for access is open, and
the peripheral flange of each of these covers has a lateral collar extending laterally inward;
said peripheral wall has a laterally outwardly extending collar for engaging with said laterally extending inwardly locking collar of said first cover and for engaging with said laterally extending lateral inward locking collar of said second cover;
the specified peripheral wall includes a rim having at least one locking hole bounded by a surrounding locking ledge on the lower part of the specified rim;
the specified rim is made with the possibility of temporary elastic deformation in the lateral direction around the specified
at least one locking hole; and
at least one of said covers includes at least one locking column for inserting into said at least one locking hole when said at least one cover is closed, said at least , one locking column includes a laterally extending locking collar configured to deform elastically and laterally to said rim around said at least one locking hole to temporarily increase the size of said o at least one hole, when the specified at least one locking column is inserted into the specified at least one locking hole, so that the locking flange of the specified at least one locking column is located inside the specified locking ledge, in snap engagement when said at least one locking column is placed in said at least one locking hole, as a result of which the opening resistance of said cover is increased. 13. A dispensing closure system for a container having an interior space in which a product may be stored, comprising:
(A) a peripheral wall extending from said container around the opening to the interior of the container, said peripheral wall defining a first access area and a second access area, said first access area having a first configuration and size to allow extraction of said product from said container, and the first access area has a wide end and has a narrow end of a tapering shape for extraction, the specified second access area is adjacent to the specified wide th end of the first access region and has a second configuration and a size to accommodate recovering said product from the interior of said container;
(B) the upper part, which is made in one piece with the specified peripheral wall and includes:
(1) a first cover;
(2) a second cover, and
(3) a first film hinge for connecting said first cover to said second cover to allow said first cover to move between a closed position in which said first access area is closed and an open position in which said first access area is open; and
B) a second film hinge, which is integrally formed with said peripheral wall and said second cover, for connecting said second cover to said peripheral wall so as to allow said second cover to move between a closed position in which said second access area is closed, and an open position in which said second access area is open, said peripheral wall including a lifting protrusion protruding laterally outward beyond one and h of said covers when said one cover is closed. 14. A dispensing closure system for a container having an interior space in which a product can be stored, comprising: (A) a peripheral wall extending from said container around the opening to the interior of the container, said peripheral wall defining a first access area and a second access area wherein said first access area has a first configuration and size to allow extraction of said product from said container, and a first access area has w It has a wide end and has a narrow end of a tapering shape for extraction, said second access area is adjacent to said wide end of the first access area and has a second configuration and size to allow extraction of said product from the interior of said container;
(B) the upper part, which is made in one piece with the specified peripheral wall and includes:
(1) a first cover;
(2) a second cover, and
(3) a first film hinge for connecting said first cover to said second cover to allow said first cover to move between a closed position in which said first access area is closed and an open position in which said first access area is open; and
C) a second film hinge, which is integral with the specified peripheral wall and the specified second cover, for connecting the specified second cover with the specified peripheral wall to ensure the movement of the specified second cover between the closed position in which the second area for access is closed and open a position in which said second access area is open, said peripheral wall having a rim; and
an arcuate slope that extends laterally inward and downward from the rim of said peripheral wall into said first access area. 15. The dispensing closure system for a container having a single, undivided inner space in which a fluid product can be stored, said dispensing closure system comprises:
(A) a peripheral wall extending from said container around the opening to the interior of the container; and
(B) the upper part, which is made in one piece with the specified peripheral wall and includes:
(1) a fixed panel that is integral with said peripheral wall and that extends across said peripheral wall to limit a single, undivided first access area separated by said fixed panel from a single, undivided second access area, where
(a) said first access area has a first configuration and size to allow extraction of said product from said container interior space,
(b) said first access area has a wide end adjacent to said fixed panel, and has a narrow end that (i) is spaced apart from said fixed panel, and (ii) has a tapered shape for removal, and
(c) said second access area has a second configuration and size to allow extraction of said product from said container interior;
(2) a first cover;
(3) a second cover, and
(4) a first film hinge for connecting said first cover to said fixed panel to allow said first cover to move between a closed position in which said first access area is closed and an open position in which said first access area is open and allows access to the whole product in a single, undivided internal space of the container; and
(5) a second film hinge for connecting said second cover to said fixed panel to allow said second cover to move between a closed position in which said second access area is closed and an open position in which said second access area is open and allows access to the entire product in a single, undivided interior space of the container. 16. The system of clause 15, is a dispensing closure for the container, which has a hole in the inner space of the container, the specified closure is separate from the specified container, but has the possibility of removable fastening to it around the specified hole. 17. The system of claim 15, wherein the narrow end of said first access area is bounded, at least in part, by two slightly arched lateral portions that extend into a more arched end portion extending between two slightly arched lateral portions. 18. The system of claim 15, wherein said peripheral wall is a closure body that includes a snap collar for engaging with a snap-in receiving structure on the container. 19. The system of Claim 15, wherein said first cover and said second cover each have a peripheral flange extending along an upper portion of said peripheral wall. 20. The system according to claim 19, in which
said peripheral flange of each of said covers has a lateral collar extending laterally inward;
said peripheral wall has a laterally outwardly extending collar for engaging with said laterally extending inwardly securing collar of said first cover and for engaging with said laterally extending lateral inward securing collar of said second cover;
the specified peripheral wall includes a rim having at least one locking hole bounded by a surrounding locking ledge on the lower part of the specified rim;
said rim is configured to temporarily elastically deform laterally around said at least one locking hole; moreover
at least one of said covers includes at least one locking column for inserting into said at least one locking hole when said at least one cover is closed, said at least , one locking column includes a laterally extending locking collar designed to cause said rim around the at least one locking hole to deform elastically and laterally in order to temporarily increase the size of the decree at least one locking hole, when the specified at least one locking column is inserted into the specified at least one locking hole, so that the locking flange of the specified at least one locking column is located inside the specified locking ledge in snap engagement when said at least one locking column is placed in said at least one locking hole, as a result of which the opening resistance of said cover is increased. 21. The system of claim 15, wherein said first and second film joints are parallel to each other. 22. The system of clause 15, wherein said peripheral wall includes a lifting protrusion protruding laterally outward beyond one of said covers when said one cover is closed. 23. The system of claim 15, wherein the narrow end of said first access area includes an element protruding laterally inward. 24. The dispensing closure system for a container having an internal space in which the product can be stored, said dispensing closure system comprises:
(A) a peripheral wall extending from said container around the opening to the interior of the container,
(B) the upper part, which is made in one piece with the specified peripheral wall and includes:
(1) a fixed panel, which is integral with the specified peripheral wall and which extends across the specified peripheral wall to limit the first area for access separated by the specified fixed panel from the second area for access, where
(a) said first access area has a first configuration and size to allow extraction of said product from said container,
(b) said first access area has a wide end adjacent to said fixed panel, and has a narrow end that (i) is spaced apart from said fixed panel, and (ii) has a tapered shape for removal, and
(c) said second access area has a second configuration and size to allow extraction of said product from said container interior;
(2) a first cover;
(3) a second cover, and
(4) a first film hinge for connecting said first cover to said fixed panel to allow said first cover to move between a closed position in which said first access area is closed and an open position in which said first access area is open; and
(5) a second film hinge for connecting said second cover to said fixed panel to allow said second cover to move between a closed position in which said second access area is closed and an open position in which said second access area is open, wherein
the peripheral flange of each of these covers has a lateral collar extending laterally inward;
said peripheral wall has a laterally outwardly extending collar for engaging with said laterally extending inwardly locking collar of said first cover and for engaging with said laterally extending lateral inward locking collar of said second cover;
the specified peripheral wall includes a rim having at least one locking hole bounded by a surrounding locking ledge on the lower part of the specified rim;
the specified rim is made with the possibility of temporary elastic deformation in the lateral direction around the specified
at least one locking hole; moreover
at least one of said covers includes at least one locking column for inserting into said at least one locking hole when said at least one cover is closed, said at least , one locking column includes a laterally extending locking collar designed to cause said rim around the at least one locking hole to deform elastically and laterally in order to temporarily increase the size of the decree at least one locking hole, when the specified at least one locking column is inserted into the specified at least one locking hole, so that the locking flange of the specified at least one locking column is located inside the specified locking ledge in snap engagement when said at least one locking column is placed in said at least one locking hole, as a result of which the opening resistance of said cover is increased. 25. A dispensing closure system for a container having an interior space in which a product can be stored, said dispensing closure system comprises:
(A) a peripheral wall extending from said container around the opening to the interior of the container,
(B) the upper part, which is made in one piece with the specified peripheral wall and includes:
(1) a fixed panel, which is integral with the specified peripheral wall and which extends across the specified peripheral wall to limit the first area for access separated by the specified fixed panel from the second area for access, where
(a) said first access area has a first configuration and size to allow extraction of said product from said container,
(b) said first access area has a wide end adjacent to said fixed panel, and has a narrow end that (i) is spaced apart from said fixed panel, and (ii) has a tapered shape for removal, and
(c) said second access area has a second configuration and size to allow extraction of said product from said container interior;
(2) a first cover;
(3) a second cover, and
(4) a first film hinge for connecting said first cover to said fixed panel to allow said first cover to move between a closed position in which said first access area is closed and an open position in which said first access area is open; and
(5) a second film hinge for connecting said second cover to said fixed panel to allow said second cover to move between a closed position in which said second access area is closed and an open position in which said second access area is open, wherein
the narrow end of said first access area includes an element protruding laterally inward. 26. A dispensing closure system for a container having an interior space in which a product may be stored, comprising:
(A) a peripheral wall extending from said container around the opening to the interior of the container, said peripheral wall defining a first access area and a second access area, at least a portion of said peripheral wall that defines said second access area, has a rim, said rim has at least one locking hole bounded by a surrounding ledge on the lower part of said rim, said rim has the possibility of temporary elastic laterally deforming around said at least one locking hole;
(B) the upper part, which is made in one piece with the specified peripheral wall and includes:
(1) a first cover configured to move between a closed position in which said first access area is closed and an open position in which said first access area is open;
(2) a second cover configured to move between a closed position in which said second access area is closed and an open position in which said second access area is open, said second cover includes at least one locking column for insertion into said at least one locking hole, when said second cover is closed, said at least one locking column includes a laterally extending locking collar configured to deforming elastically and laterally said rim around said at least one locking hole to temporarily increase the size of said at least one locking hole when said at least one locking column is inserted into said at least at least one locking hole so that the locking flange of said at least one locking column is located within said locking shoulder in snap engagement when said at least one n the locking column is placed in the specified at least one locking hole, as a result of which the resistance to opening said cover increases. 27. The system of Claim 26 is a dispensing closure for a container that has an opening in an interior of the container, said closure being separate from said container but having removable attachment to it around said opening. 28. The system of claim 26, wherein said first cover and said second cover each have a peripheral flange extending along an upper portion of said peripheral wall.
said peripheral flange of each of said first and second covers has a lateral collar extending laterally inward;
said peripheral wall has a laterally outwardly extending collar for engaging with said laterally extending inwardly securing collar of said first cover and for engaging with said laterally extending laterally inward securing collar of said second cover. 29. The system of claim 26, wherein said upper portion further includes a first film hinge for connecting said first cover to said second cover to allow said first cover to move between a closed position in which said first access area is closed, and an open position in which said first access area is open; and
said capping system further includes a second film hinge integrally formed with said peripheral wall and said second lid for connecting said second lid with said peripheral wall so as to allow said second lid to move between a closed position in which said second region for access is blocked, and an open position in which the specified second area for access is open. 30. The system of claim 26, wherein said upper portion further includes:
(1) a fixed panel that is integral with said peripheral wall and which extends across said peripheral wall to limit said first access area separated by said fixed panel from said second access area;
(2) a first film hinge for connecting said first cover to said fixed panel to allow said first cover to move between a closed position in which said first access area is closed and an open position in which said first access area is open; and
(3) a second film hinge for connecting said second cover to said fixed panel to allow said second cover to move between a closed position in which said second access area is closed and an open position in which said second access area is open. 31. A dispensing closure system for a container having an interior space in which a product may be stored, comprising:
(A) a peripheral wall extending from said container around the opening to the interior of the container, said peripheral wall defining at least one access area, wherein at least a portion of said peripheral wall has a rim, said rim has at least at least one locking hole bounded by a surrounding ledge on the lower part of the specified rim, the specified rim is made with the possibility of temporary elastic deformation in the lateral direction around the specified at least Leray one latch aperture;
(B) at least one cover is arranged to move between a closed position in which said at least one access area is closed and an open position in which said first access area is open, said at least one lid includes at least one latching column for inserting into said at least one latching hole, when said at least one lid is closed, said at least one latching column includes myself laterally extending locking collar capable of deforming elastically and laterally of said rim around said at least one locking opening to temporarily increase the size of said at least one opening when said at least one the locking column is inserted into the specified at least one locking hole so that the locking flange of the specified at least one locking column is located inside the specified locking ledge in the clickable engagement when said at least one locking column is placed in said at least one locking hole, whereby the opening resistance of said at least one cover increases. 32. The system of claim 31 is a dispensing closure for a container that has an opening in the interior of the container, and said closure is separate from said container but has removable attachment to it around said opening. 33. The system of claim 31, wherein said at least one cover has a peripheral flange extending along an upper portion of said peripheral wall;
said peripheral flange of said at least one cover has a lateral collar extending laterally inward;
said peripheral wall has a laterally outwardly extending flange for engaging with said laterally extending laterally inwardly secured collar of said at least one lid. 34. The system of claim 31, wherein said system further includes a first film hinge integrally formed with said peripheral wall and with at least one lid for connecting said at least one lid to said a peripheral wall to allow movement of said at least one lid between a closed position in which said access area is closed and an open position in which said first access area is open. 35. The system of claim 1, wherein said first cover and second cover each have a peripheral flange extending along an upper portion of said peripheral wall;
said peripheral flange of each of said covers has a lateral collar extending laterally inward; and
said peripheral wall has a laterally outwardly extending collar for engaging with said laterally extending inwardly securing collar of said first cover and for engaging with said laterally extending laterally inward securing collar of said second cover.

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